11. A Perfect Date #2
I feel like a complete loser for the way I let the situation get out of control. “I should have known that the selfie was a bad idea before Madison even took it.”
Bex covers my hand with hers as I put the car into park in front of Star Cove Municipal Park.
“Are you kidding? None of that is your fault. I should have known that she was gonna post it, but I didn’t think.
Her parents totally overreacted, by the way.
You weren’t being rude to Madison. And how could you know that they were related to the owners? ”
I grab her hand, bringing her knuckles to my lips. “You’re sweet to say that. But I’m the worst date ever. We didn’t even get to eat before I got us kicked out of the restaurant.”
Her eyes are an intense shade of green as she smiles, her voice soft. “Don’t worry about that. I’m ok.”
As if to prove her wrong, her stomach growls loudly.
“Are you sure?” I chuckle.
Her cheeks turn pink. “Shut up, Connor.”
I do as I’m told, but I have a plan to rescue our date from the dumpster fire it just turned into. I run to open the passenger door for Bex, holding her hand as we walk inside the park. “Have you been here before?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, not yet. But it looks nice in here. More peaceful than the pier and the marina.”
I have a surprise for her, but I don’t say anything until we get to the spot where a few food trucks sit in a semicircle. Wooden picnic tables are arranged in the space around them, and fairy lights are strung on the trees above the trucks to create a soft atmosphere.
“What’s this place? Is that a taco truck?” She beams, pointing at Maria’s Tacos.
“It is. It’s not Morelli’s, but we’re both hungry, and I figured I should do something to make up for getting us kicked out before we got to eat.”
Bex is way more forgiving than a lot of women I know. My ex, to name just one, would have been livid in a similar situation. Fiona expected to be wined and dined like royalty, and she would have been less than excited about eating at a food truck in the park.
“Stop blaming yourself,” she squeezes my hand. “You had my back in there, and that’s more than I can say for my dad and all the people I considered my friends until two months ago. Besides, you brought me to a taco truck.”
I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her waist, and she comes willingly.
When I dip my head, her lips are right there, so pink and tempting; but I don’t kiss her, I whisper into her ear. “Are you sure you want tacos? Take a look at the other food trucks.”
I miss her warmth when she turns around, slowly spinning to look at what each food truck offers.
“Tacos, crepes, pizza, sushi and… Fry Guy? Is that—omg, Connor! Is that a truck that sells french fries?”
Her eyes are wide with wonder, and that helps ease my guilt. “Looks like it. Why don’t we go see what they have to offer?”
Bex runs, stopping right in front of the board with the food truck menu.
“Oh, this is just—this is the most amazing place on earth. How is there not a line to buy food here?”
Caleb, the Fry guy, answers her question. “We’re usually quite busy at our original location by the pier. This second truck has opened very recently, and tonight’s a school night, and it isn’t high season with the tourists. So it’s expected that things are quiet.”
She practically bounces on her feet as she scans the menu. “I’m sorry you’re not busy, but at the same time I’m happy because I don’t have to wait too long to have my fries.”
Caleb chuckles. “Fair enough. Take your time in deciding. Con, do you want the usual?”
“Con? Do you guys know each other?” Bex’s attention temporarily shifts from the menu to focus on me.
“Caleb works here part time.” I explain. “We met at the gym on campus, and we work out together sometimes.”
Bex’s focus shifts again from the menu to Caleb. “Do you play hockey? I don’t remember seeing you at the game or at the Gamma house.”
“No, I’m afraid not. I’m Star Cove’s football tight end. The Star Cove Gladiators aren’t as popular as the Cove Knights, but we hold our own as a Division One team. You should come see us play sometime.”
If I didn’t know that Caleb has a long-term girlfriend he’s very much in love with, I would think he’s flirting with Bex. I know he’s just being friendly, though.
“I would love to go to a game.” She beams. “Hockey is the family sport thanks to my brother and my boyfriend. My dad had some football players on his client roster, but I’ve never paid too much attention.”
“You guys let me know when you want to come to a home game.” Caleb offers. “I’ll get you some good seats. I think you’ll love football. You don’t even have to freeze your ass off to watch a game.”
Caleb is just teasing, so I don’t take offense. “Sure. We could make it a double date. Luke and Shane love football, too.”
“Duh,” Bex quips. “If anything, they’re in for the eye candy. You guys have to wear so many layers on the ice. Football players have those really tight pants.”
“Aww,” I chuckle. “Are you telling me that I chose the wrong sport?” I wrap my arms around Bex, pulling her closer. Her back is flush with my front, and I rest my chin on the top of her head.
“Come on, beautiful. Let’s order some food. If you waste away on my watch, Jamie and Luke will kill me.”
After reading the menu for a few moments, Bex isn’t any closer to making a decision.
“I never thought I would say this, but I don’t know what I want. There’s too much choice.”
“Start with the kind of fry you want, and then we’ll talk about toppings. And I like everything. You can choose two and we can share, so you get to try more stuff.”
She rewards me with a smile that would make me buy her two orders of every item on the menu and probably bribe Caleb to invent a few more combinations.
“There’s still so much choice,” she muses. “But you’re right. So do we want curly fries, shoestring fries, steak fries, waffle fries, sweet potato fries or tater tots?”
We debate the pros and cons of every type of fries and settle on curly fries and tater tots.
“I don’t think I’m ready for the peanut butter and jelly fries,” Bex decides. “Can we go with the beef barbacoa, cheese and guacamole fries and the ones with crispy Serrano ham and a fried egg?”
Caleb takes her order with a nod of his head. “Excellent choice. I’ll let you in on a secret. The barbacoa and guac are Maria’s recipe.” He explains, waving at the older lady who mans the food truck. “Best Mexican food in town.”
“Now I’m even more excited.” She beams. “But we’ll have to come back, Con. I need to try the shoestring fries and the waffle fries.”
That would imply more dates, and I love the sound of that. “Deal. If you promise I’ll get a second date regardless, we can add the shoestring fries with cheese and bacon and the waffle fries with panko coconut fried shrimp and tartar sauce to our order.”
“Are you sure?” she hesitates. “Isn’t that way too much food?”
“Remember what we said at the restaurant? Jamie and Keene aren’t going to be mad if we bring home some leftovers.”
Caleb rings us up and promises to bring our food to one of the picnic tables as soon as it’s ready.
“Thank you for dinner, Con.” She says softly, taking a sip of her pink lemonade as we sit at one of the tables. “But you didn’t have to glare at me for trying to chip in with the check.”
I’m glad I sat close to her rather than on the bench opposite her, so I can pull her closer. “I’m sorry. I know we’re supposed to be equal and everything, and I promise we are. I just want to treat you to a nice meal. Besides, I asked you out, so it’s only fair that I should pay.”
Her eyes narrow suspiciously, but her lips are curled in a knowing smile. “Does that mean that if I ask you out, you’re going to let me pay?”
“Probably not.” I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Con! That’s a complete double standard.” She scolds me.
I trap her chin between two fingers, holding her gaze. For a second, her beauty almost causes me to lose my train of thought, but I recover enough to explain myself.
“Look, you just got here, and you just started your new job. I’m not hurting for money, so let me treat you to a few meals here and there. Fair?”
I’m not surprised when she argues.
“It’s only fair that once I start getting my paycheck, you let me contribute.”
I really like Bex’s independent streak. But that makes me want to spoil her even more. “We’ll cross that bridge, ok? Just know that money is just a means of getting things. When I pay for things, I do it because I want to. I don’t expect anything in return.”
Her cheeks flush pink as she leans closer. “I had no doubt about that, Con. But what if I’ve been dying to do some of those things anyway?”
Fuck.
Her hand lands on my thigh, and her lips are so close that it would take me to move just an inch to close the distance between us.
With every new thing I learn about Bex, I like her more and more. At this point, after living with her for over a month, I know she couldn’t be any different from my ex.
A part of me, the one that’s thickening with every second she’s close to me, is screaming at me to kiss her. Another part of me is still scared shitless that I could get hurt and wants me to hold back just a little longer.
I was planning on being a gentleman tonight. A romantic date, and a kiss on the cheek to say good night.
Maybe my plan wasn’t dictated by some old-fashioned concept of being the perfect date.
Maybe I’m just a chickenshit who knows that hooking up is easier, but kissing is way more intimate.
I haven’t kissed on the lips any of my hookups since my last relationship ended.
If I kiss Bex, I’m admitting she’s so much more than a hookup.
If I take that step, I’m giving her the power to hurt me if things go sour between us or if she chooses Jamie after all.
Fuck it.
I want with Bex what she and Jamie have. And to get that, I need to take a risk.
“You’re so beautiful.” I whisper.
My heart is beating so loud in my ears as my lips are about to touch hers that I don’t see Caleb placing a round tray loaded with food on the table.
“Here we go, guys.”
I abort mission at the last second. Maybe this is a sign from the universe that I need to wait. Or maybe I’m just letting my fear of being hurt win one more time.
There’s no way to tell, but the delicious food is definitely a welcome distraction.